San Francisco Proposes Outdoor Patio Smoking Ban

Supervisor Myrna Melgar introduces ordinance to prohibit smoking on bar patios, citing health concerns

Apr. 15, 2026 at 7:25pm by

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a beer glass repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the debate over smoking in bar patios.A proposed ban on smoking in outdoor bar patios sparks debate over public health, business interests, and the future of San Francisco's bar culture.San Francisco Today

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is considering a new ordinance proposed by Supervisor Myrna Melgar that would ban smoking on outdoor patios at bars in the city. The measure aims to bring the city's code in line with recent updates to state law and close a loophole that currently allows smoking in these outdoor spaces. While some bar owners argue the ban would hurt business, public health advocates say it's necessary to protect workers and patrons from secondhand smoke exposure.

Why it matters

The proposed ban is part of San Francisco's long history of tobacco prevention legislation, though the city has fallen behind other municipalities when it comes to protecting people from secondhand smoke, especially in bar settings. The debate highlights the ongoing tension between public health concerns and the economic interests of local businesses.

The details

Supervisor Myrna Melgar's ordinance would prohibit smoking on outdoor patios at bars, in addition to banning smoking in certain indoor spaces like some hotel rooms. While there is no statewide ban on patio smoking in California, over 100 municipalities, including Oakland, have enacted such restrictions. A study conducted by the advocacy group LGBTQ Minus Tobacco, in partnership with UCSF researchers, found that six of nine bar patios visited in San Francisco had unhealthy air quality levels due to secondhand smoke.

  • The ordinance was first introduced by Supervisor Melgar on April 7, 2026.
  • The Board of Supervisors is currently considering the proposed ban.

The players

Myrna Melgar

A San Francisco Supervisor who introduced the ordinance to ban smoking on outdoor bar patios, citing health concerns and a need to bring the city's code in line with recent state law updates.

LGBTQ Minus Tobacco

A local advocacy group that conducted a study, in partnership with UCSF researchers, finding unhealthy air quality levels due to secondhand smoke in six of nine San Francisco bar patios visited.

Sarita Satpathy

The President of the San Francisco Marin Medical Society, who spoke in support of the ordinance, citing research from the Centers for Disease Control that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Mo Huynh

The bar manager at Casements bar and restaurant in the Mission, who supports the ordinance and says their smoke-free outdoor patio has been good for business.

Dominic Tomasini

A Richmond resident who was smoking on the patio of the Blarney Stone bar, and opposes the proposed ban, calling it a "despicable nanny state overreach".

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What they’re saying

“I know there will be some regulars who will be like, 'what the fuck, you can't smoke out there anymore?'”

— Ryan McGrath, Bartender at the Inner Sunset Temple Bar

“It will be detrimental to the bar business.”

— Corey Grosklos, Bartender at the Blarney Stone

“I just will not subscribe to the school of thought that this is part of gay culture.”

— Joseph Andrew Hayden, Volunteer for LGBTQ Minus Tobacco

“There is no safe level of exposure to second hand smoke.”

— Sarita Satpathy, President of the San Francisco Marin Medical Society

“I think it's a despicable nanny state overreach into private business affairs.”

— Dominic Tomasini, Richmond resident

What’s next

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will continue to consider Supervisor Melgar's proposed ordinance banning smoking on outdoor bar patios in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the ongoing tension in San Francisco between public health concerns over secondhand smoke exposure and the economic interests of local bars and businesses. The outcome will impact both workers' and patrons' experiences at bars across the city.